Trump-backing country music star floats Biden conspiracy theory after debate
President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump had their debate showdown Thursday, and the internet was jumping in the aftermath.
The Associated Press hit Trump for making false claims, and CNN claimed the he made “at least 30 false claims.” Meanwhile, The Associated Press, and just about everyone else, knocked Biden for his “halting” speech and CNN said he made “at least nine false claims.”
And then there was country music star John Rich, a well-known supporter of Trump, who had an altogether unique take on what happened on the stage.
“They’ll replace Joe at the DNC,” Rich posted on X, formerly Twitter, late in the debate. “This is beyond pathetic.”
He took it a step further after the event wrapped, however. While Biden’s stops and stutters were discussed on television and social media —something that should help Trump – Rich suggested it was all by design.
“This was a hit job by the Dems on Joe so they can replace him, and everybody knows it #PANICInDC,” Rich wrote.
And thus, a conspiracy theory was born.
The post was liked more than 12,000 times before midnight, and Rich’s followers were quick to hop on board.
“CNN already knew what was going to happen,” one person responded. “The Democrats are throwing Joe under the bus and so is a lot of the media. This was all planned to put someone else in his place.”
“We know it!” another responded. “All three CNN anchors are saying the same thing!”
“I know!” another wrote. “They are downright attacking Biden! What’s their plan? Who is it?”
“Hillary will be Trump’s next debate opponent,” another wrote. “She’s the only person that can replace Kamala — they’ll claim Hillary’s victory was stolen in 2016 and she deserves it.”
Vice President Kamala Harris admitted on CNN following the debate that Biden got off to a slow start, but the Democrats seemed to, at least publicly, be happy with the substance of Biden’s debate.
It does not seem likely that Biden was the victim of a “hit job” but Rich had that idea churning on X late Thursday.
